[plug] what's a hacker?

[Andrew Pamment]

Leon Blackwell wrote:


> http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/hacker.html
> 

sure, thats what hackers call hackers. crackers call hackers something 
different. everone else has another opinion. if you want a real 
"technical" definition, read a real dictionary. it's like saying "coke" 
is the technical definition for coca cola when thats just a trademark. 
coke is impure carbon obtained from coal by heating out of contact with air.

point is hacker is slang and open to interpretation.

crackers can be malicious hackers. it means the same thing.

here is a real dictionary definition: Maquarie

hacker
noun Computers Colloquial 1. a computer enthusiast who studies computers 
and writes programs as a hobby. 2. someone who gains unauthorised access 
to a computer system and makes amendments. Also, hack.

notice colloquial.

it's not a technical word.

andrew

-- 

- Lord of the Rings is boring. There is a distinct lack of giant robots 
in it. Good movies have giant robots, bad movies don't. -james